What to Do If You Think Your Child Has Strep Throat

What is a strep throat?

A strep throat is a disease which occurs at the back of the throat, usually in children, including the tonsils caused by streptococcus. Strep throat is spread by respiratory droplets from someone who is already contaminated by the disease. Some individuals may transmit the bacteria with no symptoms at all.

It is perhaps one of the most fearful illnesses your child can catch and one that you should be worried about. It may be difficult to understand the complexity of strep throat which your child is diagnosed with, however there are a few signs that you should definitely consider when trying to figure out how dangerous the issue may be.

Signs of a Strep Throat

Red and White Patches in the Back of the Throat

This is one of the very noticeable evident signs that provide evidence that your kid may have strep throat. Basically all you have to do is, look in the back of their throat, and observe closely whether there are any red or white patches present there. This sign of contamination is entirely restricted to this infectious ailment. If so, your kid has strep throat without any doubt. However, there are different signs to look for also to be completely assured about this.

Facing Complexity with Swallowing Food

This symptom might be a little more difficult to recognize, unlike the latter stated. This is because you cannot actually feel or realize what is happening in your child’s throat or what he or she may be feeling. One way to recognize it is, if your child has lost their appetite entirely or is taking more than normal time to swallow something they are eating, then strep throat is unquestionably a likely reason.

Getting a Headache

Getting a Strep throat is very similar to getting a sore throat which is usually the case after getting a headache and/or fever. If you notice that your child has a unrelenting headache and a sore throat, it may be a symptom of the Strep throat and it would be best if you contact his/her pediatrician right away.

Puffy Lymph Nodes and inflated Tonsils

Having strep throat means being associated with a lot of swelling in or near the throat area. A few of the areas where this noticeable swelling may appear, is on either both or one side of your child’s neck, which is known as “Lymph Nodes”. If this area is also followed by swollen or bright red tonsils, then it may be very likely that your child has strep throat and you should take him/her to the Pediatrician for better care as soon as possible.

Fever

Having a fever is a common sign that your child’s body is trying to battle off an infection. If any of the previously stated symptoms are accompanied by a fever, it is very likely that your child may be on the verge of having a strep throat.

Stomach Pain and Nausea

Whilst showing signs of the previous stated symptoms, your child complains of having stomach pain or nausea, this should be a clear sign for you to head over to the pediatrician because it is another major sign of strep throat that your child’s body may show.

Prolonged Sore Throat

Another major symptom is a sore throat that continues to last for more than 3 days, especially if your child does show the symptoms stated above. It’s better to fight off an infection at its early stage rather than letting it spread to the rest of your family or friends.

How to Help Your Child When You are assured that They May Have Strep Throat

Call Their Pediatrician

As parents, the most you can do is comfort you child and provide them with pain killers to minimize the symptoms. However, while doing so it is very necessary that you get in touch with your child’s Pediatrician so they can receive special care, treatment and the proper antibiotics needed for such an ailment.

Strep throat is a transferable virus that must be taken care of effectively and as soon as possible. If you think your child may be showing symptoms of a Strep throat get help – Contact us!

This chart lists important vaccines and tests as well as recommended well-child visits. In addition to these vaccinations, we recommend all children aged 6 months.

What’s New

We hope to use this page to keep you updated as our practice grows and changes. Much like the development of your child, we hope to continue to grow and we hope you will keep up with future evolutions of the clinics and this site through upcoming posts. Healthcare is ever changing as well, and as new research is published that we think is important to share with you, it will be posted here.
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Provide accurate, tender, timely, and compassionate care to children in a professional setting while educating parents in promoting wellness so that each child grows to their fullest potential.